2013 Hong Kong Open Pre-tournament forecast

2013-11-20

Battle to reach the 2013 finals! Tai Tzu Ying will do her best to stay in the top eight
Following the recently-concluded 2013 VICTOR China Super Series Premier, next up is the 2013 Hong Kong Open. The points garnered at the last Super Series event of the year will decide which players make the 2013 Super Series finals!  
 
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In the men’s singles, VICTOR star Chou Tien-chen will play Japan’s Ueda Takuma. If he gets through the first round safely he will play No. 6 seed, Jorgensen of Denmark.,
 
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ROK women’s singles player Bae Yeon Ju has been unable to win a title this year but has performed consistently and is almost certain to qualify for the 2013 finals. She will play Canada’s Nicole Grether in the first round. 
 
The annual finals have eight places in each discipline (the tournament begins at the quarter final stage,) so Tai Tzu Ying’s performance this week is very important as she currently lies seventh in the Super Series points table. She will play Hong Kong’s Chan Tsz Ka Kaka in the first round. She is likely to play Yip Pui Yin or Mitani Minatsu in the second round. If she gets past this hurdle she is likely to play this year’s Badminton World Championship women’s singles title winner Intanon in the quarterfinals. 
 
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In the men’s doubles, in the draw for the Hong Kong Open Indonesia’s Ahsan/Setiawan were lucky to avoid their nemesis Lee Yong DaeYoo Yeon Seong and the pairs will meet in the semi-finals at the earliest. However, if there are no upsets, LeeYoo will face No.5 seeds Lee Sheng MuTsai Chia Hsin in the quarter finals. Both pairs are highly skilled and they haven’t played each other this year. An exciting match can be expected.
 
In the women’s doubles, badminton queens Yu Yang/Wang Xiao Li are well ahead at the top of the Super Series points table. They recently defended their China Open crown successfully and are top seeds at the Hong Kong Open. They will face VICTOR stars Ko A Ra/ Yoo Hae Won of the ROK in the first round.
 
Zhang Nan/Zhao Yun Lei, world ranked No. 1 and  well ahead in the Super Series points table, are, of course, top seeds in the mixed doubles. AhmadNatsir are taking a break this week. India’s badminton beauty Ashwini Ponnappa will partner Tarun Kona in a first round match against the seventh seeds from Indonesia, Praveen JORDAN/Vita MARISSA
 
( Edit by VICTOR Badminton )